The Trades Awards are open to businesses of all sizes and types within the construction industry, with everyone from individual tradespeople to national homebuilders, and from interior designers to architects, encouraged to showcase their people and projects.

This year the event welcomed Scotia Homes as the new main sponsor, and W M Donald continued with their supporting sponsorship, with the industry continuing to use the event as a platform for rewarding excellence within their teams.

Mearns & Gill, the local creative marketing agency behind the event, revealed that despite the event now entering the eleventh year, this year’s event has received the highest number of applications to date, with a 60% increase in the total number of applications, with around 50% of them being from first time applicants.

Mike Wilson, managing director of Mearns & Gill, said: “Revealing the Trades Awards finalists is always exciting, and it’s been especially so this year due to the high level of interest. The aim of this event has always been to give the construction industry a place to celebrate and reward excellence, and we’re delighted that this is still the case after more than ten years.

“I should say that this increased interest has given our panel of judges a more difficult task than ever, both in the number of applications to read through, and then somehow deciding on the finalists. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their time and integrity, because we cannot organise this event without them.”

Joe Boyle, technical director at Scotia Homes, added: “We are delighted that so many businesses found the time to enter the Trades Awards this year. We know first hand how busy the industry is, and that it is particularly difficult for sole traders and small businesses to find the time, but we are grateful that so many could. On behalf of Scotia Homes, I would like to take this opportunity to thank every person who entered or nominated this year and wish all this year’s finalists the very best of luck as they head into the interviews.”

Elaine Donald, director of W M Donald, commented: “We continue to support The Trades Awards because encouraging people into the construction industry, and developing those already working within it, is at the core of everything we do as a business. It’s great to see so many new companies taking part this year, it really helps to show how exciting things are for the industry in the North East. We’re already looking forward to evening, and we hope that every finalist will take a moment to be proud of their achievements.”

This year’s Trades Awards finalists in the following categories are:

Best New Business, sponsored by W M Donald

• E B Architect Ltd
• Kyle Sutherland Joinery

Outstanding Customer Service, sponsored by Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes

• James Gibb
• PMC Property Management and Lettings
• Nicol of Skene
• John McDonald, Scotia Homes
• Goldstar Cleaning Services

Excellence in Health and Safety, sponsored by Safety Scotland

• Magnox, Dounreay Nuclear Site
• Nicol of Skene
• W M Donald

Sustainability in Construction, sponsored by Transform

• Chap Group
• Scotia Homes
• WM Donald

Home/Building Improvement, sponsored by CITB

• EB-Architect
• Bo Concept
• Monarch

Driving Diversity and Inclusion, sponsored by STV

• Nodram Decorators Aberdeen
• W M Donald

Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by James Gibb

• Liam Davidson. Scotia Homes
• Luke Benvie, Stewart Milne Homes
• David Barclay, Chap Group

Tradesperson of the Year, sponsored by Malcolm Allan Housebuilders

• Alistair Simpson, AGS Joinery
• Stuart Forbes, W M Donald
• Gordon Gerrie, Monarch
• Scott Campbell, MS Electrical
• Grant Milne, Scotia Homes

Site Manager of the Year, sponsored by PMC Property Management & Lettings

• Brian Gibb – MA Housebuilders
• Fraser Stephen – Scotia Homes
• Iain MacLaren – Barratt Homes

Rising Star, sponsored by Stewart Milne Group

• Connor Gray, Scotia Homes
• Scott Miele, Scotia Homes
• Ellen Glennie, Stewart Milne Homes
• Joanne Riddoch, W M Donald
• Lauren Allan, Barratt Homes
• Ryan Dickie, Nicol of Skene

Construction Project of the Year, sponsored by Bancon Homes

• Halliday Fraser Munro
• Port of Aberdeen
• Rachel Walker Architects Ltd

Best Small Trades Business, sponsored by Nicol of Skene

• Alan Donald Ltd
• C & G Safety & Training
• Kyle Sutherland Joinery
• Nodram Decorators Aberdeen

Best Large Trades Business

• Nicol of Skene
• W M Donald

The Trades Awards 2023 ceremony is taking place on Friday 27th October at Ardoe House.